UAE-based Jazla Hamad ACCA, audit partner, Deloitte Middle East, became the first female Emirati partner in the firm’s 97-year history in the region.
We are moving in the right direction with diversity and inclusion, but we need more recognition from leaders, across the region and the wider world, that there is still gender inequality. We need more championing of gender parity.
Working alongside leaders, colleagues and peers who mentor and train women into key leadership roles has been a refreshing experience. I was fortunate to have formal and informal mentorship opportunities, which have had a huge impact on my career development.
‘I try to pay forward the opportunities I was given in life’
I try to pay forward the opportunities I was given in life as much as possible, in both a personal and a professional capacity.
A promotion to CFO for the Pakistan division of food and beverage multinational Nestlé took Komal Altaf FCCA back to her homeland; she has since become finance director at Nestlé Middle East and North Africa.
When I returned to Pakistan in 2022 after more than a decade of assignments in the Middle East and Europe, the country was, and still is, going through an unprecedented economic challenge.
In addition to providing employment for around 3,700 people across four factories, Nestlé Pakistan collaborates with the government’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), through the Nestle-BISP Rural Women Sales Program. The initiative is responsible for financially empowering 2,700 women in rural communities.
More than 60% of the Pakistani population live in rural areas. Working with BISP and Akhuwat Microfinance, an Islamic charity and interest-free loan provider, we support women to become rural entrepreneurs.
‘I have never limited myself to the job description’
I’ve never limited myself to the job description, or the handover the previous person was giving me. Setting no limits on myself, I strive to deliver more than is expected. I want to be the best employee in the company, no matter the role.
I am blessed to have several mentors who are part of my leadership journey. It is great if you can tap into someone’s wisdom and benefit from their learning, which can help you appreciate and navigate through your own journey. I’m now doing the same for my team.
To get ahead as a woman, follow the ‘PIE’ theory of success: performance, image and exposure. Performance alone is not enough; you also have to work on the image you’re creating with others. If there is something you would like to change, do it.
Hadeel Biyari ACCA, indirect tax controversy leader at Deloitte Middle East, works at the leading edge of tax advisory work in Saudi Arabia.
What we do is very challenging, but I am passionate about seeing the impact of our work.
I encourage younger colleagues to find their own niche and favoured industry sector. I tell them: ‘Find what truly excites you, because if you are just trying to meet KPIs you are unlikely to enjoy the journey. If your passion is real estate, consumer, or financial services, let me know. I will do my best to help you dive into that world.’
‘I have made it my mission to empower women within the practice’
Being made partner in 2023 was the fulfilment of a dream. It brings a sense of pride, and I want other young women to be able to do the same.
I have made it my mission to grow the team organically, transferring knowledge to them, and to empower women within the practice.
Bhavna Duggal FCCA’s single-minded determination has taken her from Asia via the UK to Canada. Previously a partner with EY Toronto, she currently works as an interim/ fractional CFO.
The beauty of an interim or fractional role is that it allows me to devote time to family as well as give back to the community and other causes I believe in like diversity, healthcare and education.
‘I’ve been able to achieve my career goals because I had people around me to support me’
I’m a big believer in paying it forward. I’ve been able to achieve my career goals because I had people around me to support me, to sponsor me, to mentor me, and to have trust and faith in me.
The world really is your oyster, and your ACCA qualification is your passport. Push yourself out of your comfort zone to achieve true growth.
Alia Saleh FCCA, CFO at ISG Middle East, Dubai, has carved out a role in the male-dominated construction sector by demonstrating thoughtful leadership.
My style of leadership and communication is very different from that of a man and that’s particularly noticeable on construction sites, where things can get very rough and shouty.
But the fact is that I still get results. It’s fine to be different, as long as you get results.
The message I want women accountants to hear and act on is: take your seat, own it, and never be afraid to make your voice heard.
‘We need spaces where women feel comfortable sharing their experiences’
I co-founded the ACCA Middle East Superconnected Women’s Community, which after a lot of hard work now has 150 members. I wanted more opportunities for women accountants in the region to connect, share knowledge and build professional relationships.
We need spaces where people, and women especially, feel comfortable about sharing their thoughts and experiences.
I have plans, and I want to continue to grow and learn, but I will always make sure that I hold the door open for others who come after me.
Nirala Singh FCCA, head of finance at BAT Bangladesh, started out in Trinidad and Tobago and has built her career in five countries across three continents.
Diversity creates better opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, smarter decision-making, reduced employee turnover rates, and, most importantly, increased profits and productivity. We need to continue to build diversity in the corporate sector – not in the name of morality but to create competitive advantage.
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Join the conversation with ACCA’s all-female council team and students on gender equity, accelerating change and career aspirations, to mark International Women’s Day
